Archaerhodopsin Expression in New Hippocampal Neurons

Pinardo, Heinrich

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/75931 Copy

Description

Title

Archaerhodopsin Expression in New Hippocampal Neurons

Author(s)

Pinardo, Heinrich

Contributor(s)

Rhodes, Justin

Issue Date

2015-04

Keyword(s)

• Psychology
• Microbiology
• Optogenetics
• Neurogenesis
• Immunofluorescence

Abstract

It is widely accepted that neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons, occurs in two regions in the adult mammalian brain: the subventricular zone and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a region of the brain widely known for its role in learning and memory. The Rhodes lab is interested in using optogenetic techniques to further observe the functional role of these new hippocampal neurons. Optogenetics is a new technique that uses light and light-sensitive protein channels to control the activity of neurons. The goal of my project is to create a genetically altered mouse model that is suitable for use in our labs optogenetics experiments. This involves incorporating archaerhodopsin, our light-sensitive protein, in the cell membranes of only new neurons. Taken under a confocal microscope, the image shown is a 40 'M-thick coronal section of the hippocampus of the genetically altered mouse brain stained with fluorescent markers for archaerhodopsin tagged with enhanced green-fluorescent protein (green), mature neurons tagged with NeuN (blue), and newly divided cells tagged with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (red). The presence of sites showing an overlap of all three fluorescent markers suggests that we have successfully developed a model that integrates archaerhodopsin in new neurons. For more information about the Image of Research--Undergraduate Edition go to: http://go.library.illinois.edu/imageofresearch_uredition

Type of Resource

• text
• image

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/75931

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2015 Heinrich Pinardo

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